January 27, 2010

It continues to rain in Cusco, but where I am (in Kcauri-Quispicanchi) we had hardly any rain all last night and this morning...so we are praying that the rain continues to calm down here and throughout this region of Peru.

Most of the news I read online is about the situation at Aguas Calientas, where many of the estimated 2000 tourists are still stranded because the railroad is still damaged from the mudslides.

There has been talk of the governement sending tents, food, and other supplies from Lima for those whose homes have been destroyed. However, people I talk to and whose families have lost their homes don´t seem to think this will happen any time soon. A common frustration I hear is that the wealthy and tourists are being helped first. Travelling back to Kcauri yesterday I passed through Oroesa, Huacarpay, and other small poor towns close-by where many homes have been washed away by the Huatanay River. I saw a van and people lined up to receive food. Aside from this, I didn´t see very much help for the people. In the Plaza de Armas in Cusco there is a big donation tent set up where people can bring clothes, food, and supplies for those left homeless.

Sacsayhuman (in Cusco) and other historical sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas have been affected. All major roads in and out of Cusco have been closed off.

It´s hard to find out what´s going on. I see what is going on right here close by where I live, but the rest is what I hear on the radio, read online, or what people say. Not sure if the situation here has really hit the news stateside, but I live in a pretty isolated community...so if any of you hear anything and can pass me a quick email with any more recent info on what´s going on, I would really appreciate it.

I´d also like to ask you to please join with me in prayer for all of those affected by the heavy rains...those who have lost loved ones, lost their homes, crops, animals, for the governement here, and those stranded in Aguas Calientes.

I miss you all very much. Can´t wait to see you. Thank you so much for all the prayers, encouragement, and support. Through each of you, I have felt in a very real way God´s love. Thank you.

Much love,
Tasi

January 26, 2010

I´m currently living in Kcauri which is about 2 hours away from the actual city part of Cusco. I stay here Monday thru Friday. On the weekends I make my way to the city to visit friends, go to church, and in general do errands. On my way back to Kcauri two days ago, my heart broke as the bus I was on slowed down to wait in a long line of cars and buses trying to make their way across a pool of water and mud that was knee high. To my left and right I saw what remained of what used to be people´s homes, crops...beautiful green land as far as the eye could see. Monday morning, rooftops and wooden doors half covered in mud (many of homes in the campo are made from mud brick) were the only proof that at one point, homes were there...as the rest of the buildings were literally swept away. To my right I saw pigs and livestock, dead on the side of the road. To my left, I saw crowds of people trying to help a family gather some last belongings from their home, which was already waist-high in water.

It is normal for it to be raining pretty regularly right now in Cusco but only at night. Today marks the fifth day of non-stop heavy rain, all day and all night. As a result, many of the rivers have overflowed, roads blocked due to mudslides and boulders. I heard on the news today that 2000 tourists were stranded in Machu Picchu because the railroad was blocked. They are either in the process of getting airlifted out or are already on their way home. Several bridges have been swept away along the Sacred Valley. I had to go back into Cusco early this morning for work stuff. On the way back to Kcauri again , I saw more of the damage of the heavy rain. There were people sitting on the side of the road, with all they had left at their side. On the radio on our way back, we heard that so far in Cusco, there have been 8 deaths and 50 left injured due the flooding and mudslides. There have also been a few deaths of tourists who were hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. The rain continues to pour.

I´m trying to read up on the latest right now online, but due to a very slow internet connection (I think this office is he only place that has internet in Kcauri) I´m not sure how possible that will be. I just read from BBC: A state of emergency has been declared in south-eastern Peru, where the authorities say up to 3000 people have had their homes destroyed. So please, pray. There are many people suffering...here in Cusco, other places in Peru where this is also happening, in Haiti, as well as other parts of the world. I´ll do my best to keep everyone updated on everything that is going on here.